We've stayed here 4 separate occasions. I don't think we'll return. The food is decent, staff are kids working for summer. During one visit, a family sang outside our cabin at 11 PM one night, then 9 pm the next night.. they boasted they were return visitors each year--I guess they feel entitled to keep other guests awake for this reason..
There have been other issues, all of which are not that bad. However, just know you'll be paying upwards of $1000 nightly after tax if you want a cabin. There are so many other, better places to stay in the area, but I hesitate to share them on YELP because families like the ones singing at 11 PM , above, will visit other places and ruin them. You must make dinner reservations and that often disrupted our day.
We were often hiking far up into the mountains and had to return so we'd not miss dinner. I think the best thing about staying here was engaging the staff regarding "secret" hikes and unmarked trails. They were a wealth of information. We always tipped generously (50% minimum nightly) and I believe we were treated extremely well because of this. So I would strongly suggest tipping well and understanding the kids here are hardly paid any wages (but they get to hike and enjoy the area during off-days).
The reason we'd not return is because we've encountered more obnoxious guests, largely from overseas, U.S. coasts (we asked the staff and they agreed with our assessment and commented they were New Yorkers or Californians, etc). In any case, we grew tired of the scheduled dinners. It was a privilege to stay here and I pray they never change the place. It can be expensive at nearly $1000 nightly after taxes, but this includes your meals, amazing location/views, and cabins are spotless. We never stayed in a duplex and would never do so at this place.. we always reserved a private cabin. I was told by the staff the duplexes share a wall, and guests can literally hear everything, so I'd recommend a family with kids to stay in the duplex, and that they rent out both sides. I also tired of having to pack a suit and tie/nice shoes for the dinners, which is another reason we don't stay here any longer. Dinner is NOT stuffy, but it's an occasion for which you should celebrate and dress accordingly, at least Dockers or slacks. We were stunned when a couple wore shorts and flip-flops to dinner one night... the staff asked them to change and that offended them as guests. I was told they dined in their room per manager's request. if you don't understand the attire, or that wearing shorts and sandals to dinner here is inappropriate, then I'd say this is not the place for you. I would say this is an old fashioned place where many repeat visitors cherish their memories here, and they enjoy dressing nicely. And that's a great thing.
After our last visit, and the singing nightly, among other things we saw the guests doing (kids--in front of their parents--spitting water at the onsite horses, throwing tennis balls against a cabin while same parents sat on porch), we won't return.
We really used to love the place but the clientele has drastically changed for the worse... at least some of them around us... have no business staying here.. they'd be better off at a ritz Carlton (back home) or the four seasons in Jackson. Really obnoxious,and just downright Ugly Americans. It's really been bad our last few visits and I suspect this is because the park is far more popular today than ever before. read more